UICC World Cancer Congress 2006

Methods: Currently there are 27 national medical institutions nationwide accredited that participate in the campaign for early detection, diagnosis and treatment.

Results: We have accrued 500 children reporting an incidence of 90 new cases per year. The prevalence has been of ocular and orbital stages. The age range was from 0 to 182 months. There were 364 unilateral cases (72.8%). Enucleation was performed in 84.9%. The St. Jude's staging revealed 7.4% stage I, 52.8% stage II, 18.0% stage III, 11.4% stage IV and, 7.2% not evaluated and 3.2% missing data. Chemotherapy was administered in 74.4% of the patients (19 different protocols). Disease free survival was 89% at 73 months of follow up. Currently after two years of working with the MRCG a National Treatment Protocol has been developed. In summary the clinical features are similar to those reported from other developing countries. Due to the evidence that large amount of our patients have evidence of advanced stage the national educational campaign for medical and open population is warranted. This report represents the first effort to work in a collaborative group at Mexico, and makes it evident the need to continue with this joint work in order to ensure better treatment standards for children affected by retinoblastoma.